Gabrielle Buch, 21, made aliyah from Hillside, New Jersey, at age 18. Currently, she is serving as a lone soldier who works with soldiers on the autism spectrum. She is also engaged to a fellow oleh, Gavriel Reiffman.
Aviva: What school and shul did you go to in New Jersey?
Gabi: I went to Kushner and davened at Congregation Adath Israel (AI) in Hillside.
What kind of Zionist education did you get in your home?
My parents instilled in us a great love of Israel. My parents took my brother Max and me to Israel to celebrate our bar and bat mitzvahs. Right now, it’s just not possible for them to make aliyah, but they may plan on spending their retirement in Israel.
Tell me about your Zionist education at school.
Kushner is a very Zionistic school that has always emphasized how important it is for American Jews to support Israel. At Kushner, there is an Israel seminar, a Jewish history class that focuses on the modern state of Israel and Zionism. I went there from first to 12th grade, and every day, Israel was a discussion. From Hebrew class to Gemara class to Tanach class, Israel was the focus.
What was your motivation for wanting to make aliyah?
I’ve always felt spiritually connected to Israel. One of the bigger moments was when the three boys were killed in the summer of 2014 when I was in Camp Moshava IO. My camp friend Moriah is Israeli, and her brother was friends with Gilad Sher. I distinctly remember that they sat us down and told us that the boys’ bodies had been found. Moriah fell apart and I started crying, too. I realized I was just a shoulder to cry on, but it didn’t impact me as much as it should have. That’s when I knew that I was making aliyah. That sense of achdut and realizing what was missing was my motivation.
What made you decide to make aliyah at 18?
I was learning at Migdal Oz, and I had been accepted to college in America, but I realized I wanted to go either to law or psychology. It didn’t make sense to go back and get a degree that would cost my parents so much money and then come here and convert a license. On the more emotional side, my heart was just not willing to leave.
Did you come to Israel with the intention of drafting into the army?
I knew that at some point, I was going to make aliyah. I just didn’t know whether it would be before or after college, but I knew I wanted to serve in the army.
What are you doing in the army?
I work with soldiers with autism as a chonechet shiluv meyuchad for soldiers with high-functioning autism who integrate socially and professionally into different units of the army. I’m in touch with their commanders, their parents and their psychologists. I help make sure they are doing the best that they can in the army and that they have what they need to succeed. What I do in the army is unique to Israel. There is no other country in the world that drafts autistic soldiers.
What do you love about living in Israel?
I feel a sense of closeness and belonging. I feel like this is where I am supposed to be.
Do you miss anything about living in New Jersey?
I miss my family and friends, having a car, being able to go to Trader Joe’s and speaking English.
Do you have a message for someone who’s considering making aliyah as a young person like you did?
The most important thing to remember is that you’re taking a leap of faith, but you also have to take care of yourself. I think a lot of people don’t realize how emotionally straining a move across the world is. You need to be prepared that life won’t be easy at the beginning, so it is important to have a support system.
Despite this, I am also aware that life in Israel is enriching and meaningful.
By Aviva Zacks
